Inspection of 20 November 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
- A suitable and secure outdoor area was not available to the children as follows. 1. The designated outdoor area was not available to the children. Staff reported this was because the grass was overgrown and wet, and the children did not have suitable outdoor clothing or footwear. The school yard was used for outdoor play. However, there were no natural elements, areas of interest, equipment or materials provided in this area to support the children’s play, learning and development. 2. The designated outdoor area and school yard were not secured. The designated outdoor area had large, unfenced sections on three sides. The school yard had a large, unfenced section on one side. These unfenced sections led to extensive school grounds including the school car park, posing a risk of injury if a child left unsupervised
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Equipment and materials are available to the children in the designated outdoor areas (grass area and playground area). Conversations have been had with Educators to ensure that play equipment is brought out at the designated play time each day. The service management has spoken with the school management regarding having the grass cut more frequently and the service is awaiting installation of a fence in the grassed area. All parents / guardians were advised that wet gear and wellies are required for children. Wet gear and wellies will be brought in for all children at the start of term each year. 2. The designated outdoor green area has hedging around it. Management have proposed to the primary school board the installation of a fence around the three unfenced sides. It may be January 2025 before approval is given. This green area is not in use until the fence is in place. Temporary moveable fencing is now in place when children are in the school yard. This fencing is portable and can be moved in and out of place as required. When in place, fencing will be checked daily in the service’s daily risk assessments / maintenance sheets. The green area will then be shared between the three classes, one class at a time is allocated outside of this time
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: The three pre-school rooms were not adequately secured to prevent children leaving unsupervised. Each room had a door with a low-push-bar opening which could be opened by a child. These led to the outdoor areas which were not fenced off from the extensive school grounds, including the school car park posing a risk of injury
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: Management will ensure that all doors are secured. Temporary latches have been put in place to ensure children cannot push the doors open. Contact has been made with a fire alarm company to install magnetic lock release mechanisms. These should be fitted in January 2025
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 25, 26, 27.